Gen. Tukur Buratai (rtd), former Chief of Army Staff, says defeating insecurity in Nigeria requires a holistic approach because the problem is rooted in politics.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily, Buratai said leaving the burden of tackling insecurity to the military will not provide a lasting solution.
His words: “It was started through some political actors, and it was essentially a political issue.
“This insecurity is essentially political, and now, it’s been left to the military, and the political actors are staying behind.
“So, this is something that is needed for a total review of the security aspect in terms of political associations or political involvement and so on.”
Buratai, who served in the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari, said economic and social factors also contribute to the worsening crisis across the country.
“It’s very clear that apart from the military, we have the economic line, we have the social line, we have the political line — very important,” he said.
He added that the military remains an important part of the solution but needs more support.
“You cannot demoralise him. If you demoralise him, or you despise him, make things difficult for him, then you are endangering his life and that of his family, and you are endangering the life of the whole of Nigerians,” ,” Buratai said of troops deployed across Nigeria.
The former army chief dismissed claims that the military is frustrating the fight against insecurity, insisting that soldiers are only one part of the broader response required.
In recent years, Nigeria has witnessed a surge in violent attacks, including mass abductions, killings, and destruction of communities by bandits and insurgents.